(Video) Kowloon Park pigeons swarm and steal food from diners in viral video

A flock of over a dozen wild pigeons brazenly invaded an outdoor fast-food area near Kowloon Park, knocking over drinks, refusing to leave tables, and aggressively snatching fries despite children waving them away, in a chaotic 28-second video shared online today.

Netizens dubbed the birds “Kowloon Park gangsters,” noting the group has long been notorious for daily raids. Staff and regular customers have grown accustomed to the behavior. 

One eyewitness described a scout pigeon grabbing a single fry first, startling a young girl who stood up, before the entire flock descended seconds later.

The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department said it inspected the restaurant on January 7 and offered advice on pigeon control. 

Last year, it conducted two joint operations with other departments against illegal feeding in the park.

Feeding wild pigeons is now illegal under the 2024 amendment to the Wild Animal Protection Ordinance, with maximum penalties raised to a HK$100,000 fine and one year’s imprisonment, plus a HK$5,000 fixed penalty.

Enforcement now includes staff from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, and the Housing Department.

Past reports from 2023 already described the pigeons as cunning “old hands” that send scouts to approach innocently before sudden attacks, preferring fries over burgers or chicken.